Locking mechanism for desk contained swingable typewriter shelf



April 1, 1958 H. E. HUTzl-:LMAN

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DESK CONTAINED SWINGABLE TYPEWRITER SHELF Original Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aww w mln,

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April 1, 1958 H. E. HUTZELMAN 2,829,020

LOOKING MEOHANISM FOR DESK CONTAINED SWINGABLE TYPEWRITERy SHELF' Original Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/EN TOR. v

ByflfOM/f/@o United States Patent() LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DESK CONTAINED SWINGABLE TYPEWRITER SHELF Howard E. Hutzelman, Corry, Pa., assignor to Corry- Jamestown Manufacturing Corporation, Corry, Pa., a corporation of New York Griginal application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 323,999, now Patent No. 2,738,247, dated March 13, 1956. Divided and this application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,248

4 Claims. (Cl. 312-27) This invention relates to typewriter desks' wherein one of the desk pedestals is provided with a compartment for housing a swingable shelf and typewriter to enable movement of a typewriter into exposed operative position or concealed inoperative position within the pedestal, and is a division of my Patent No. 2,738,247, granted March 13, 1956. n i

Specifically, the invention is directed to the provision of means lfor selectively securing a typewriter shelf in extended,y exposed positiony andk for securing said shelf in a retracted concealed position within a desk pedestal.

In typewriter desks of theV kind to which the present invention is directed, there is provided a swingable typewriter supporting shelf. This shelf swings about suitable links from a position of concealment within the pedestal f to a raised position exteriorly and forwardly ofthe pedestal. Many ofthe typewriter shelf suspensions now on the market adequately serve as a means for moving a typewriter into and out of position of use. However, it is believed that` the various means employed to secure typewriter shelves in extended position are inadequate in that the securing means fails to so lock or otherwise fasten the shelf as to permit unnecessary and highly objectionable vibration of both typewriter and shelf when the typewriter is, operated. Furthermore, such locking or securing means, generally, is not quickly and easily manipulatable by an operator, this being particularly true when the shelf and typewriter are within the pedestal and it is ldesired to release and move them into operative position.

The present invention is directed to and has for one of its objects the provision of locking means by which to rigidly hold typewriter shelf supporting arms in fully extended position.

Another object rof the invention lies in the provision of locking means for a typewriter shelf that is self-progressive to rigidly secure` the shelf in position for operation of a typewriter mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of means for securing a typewriter and shelf in retracted position within a desk pedestal and against withdrawal from the pedestal except throughl manipulation of a manually controlled lever.

Another and most important object of the invention resides in the provision of means by which adjustment may be made to assure that the shelf is secured against displacement or vibrationvwhen it is` moved into fully extended position.

A still further object of theinvention lies in theprovision of a simple mechanismA carried by a swingable typewriter supporting shelf that will secure and lock said i shelf in fully extended or fully retracted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which v Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a pedestal mounted typewriter shelf and swing mechanism in extendedposition, with the locking means embodying the invention, in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and shows the locking mechanism effective to secure the shelf in fully retracted position within the pedestal;

Fg. 3 is a considerably enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the locking mechanism as it appears to secure theshelf in extended position as shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the locking rod just prior to its operation to secure the shelf in extended position;

Fig. 5 is a considerably enlarged sectional view of the .locking mechanism shown in Fig. 2 wherein said mechanism secures the shelf in fully retracted position within the pedestal;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the locking rod in released position to enable swinging withdrawal of the shelf from the pedestal;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. l; and

' Fig. Sis an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and appreciated, it is necessary to describe, to some extent at least, the structure on which the device embodying the invention is used. Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate a pedestal of the type common to desks or tables. yPresentl designs of desks or tables, desks particularly, mount the pedestal on a stepped in base, such as indicated at 11, or on some form of runner, this structure being conventionally substituted for previously applied legs of one form or another. The pedestal, in the present disclosure, consists of inner and outer duplicate walls 12 and rear wall 13. The inner and outer-walls 12 are flanged along their vertical edges to forman opening 14 that is adapted to be closed by a side hung door. The top 16 of the pedestal generally constitutes a part of the desk or table top. In the present instance, the pedestal is reinforced interiorly by inverted channels 17 that extend transversely of and are permanently secured to the base wall 18v of the pedestal. An inturned flange or channel 19 at least in part frames theopeningl 14. .The side walls 12 of the pedestal are reinforced by permanently attached front and rear channels 21.

The swingable suspension, which, in the present invention, is intended to be secured in either of two posit tions, is carried in lits entirety by a pair of =s1de rails y later be brought out, serves as a stop to prevent swinging 22 which are of the nature of channels. The flanged edges 23 of these channels are intended to abut the outstanding base walls of the side channels 21, being permanently secured thereto in any suitable manner. At the forward ends of the rails 22, the central offset portions 24 are inclined, as at 25, and have forwardly opening notches 26. These notches are somewhat wedge shaped, the lower edge 27 thereof being inclined downwardly. From this lower edge, the central portion 24 is cut away, substantially as Vshown in the drawings. lust to the rear of the forward channel 21, the upper flanges of the rails 22 are notched, as at 28, to receive the ends of a cross bar 29. This bar is intended to secure the forward ends -of counterbalancing springs 31.

38. `The rear portion 36 of each of these brackets isy formed with a laterally offset blister 39 which, as will pedestal. The forward end of each bracket is provided with a horizontal slot 41. These slots receive the ends of a latching rod. 42 which, is carried by the inner endv of a latch-release handle 43. A spring 44, connects the rod 42 with the brackets` and serves. to yieldingly hold the rod in its rearmost position. within ther slot 41. A horizontal flange 46 extendsY laterally away from` the shelf at the central portion 37 of each ofthe brackets and each flange is provided with an adjusting` screw 47.

The suspensioufor the shelf'is carried by the rails 22 and includes a forward pair of arms 48. These arms, at their upper ends, are pivotally attached to the rails 22, approximately midway of the rail ends. The lower ends of these armsA are pivotally` joined; to the forward ends of theV shelf brackets 34,y lt. will bc; noted that the pivotal connection 49 of the arms 48 with brackets 34 is in the plane of the shelf anges 33 and that the pivotal connections 51 of the upper ends of these arms` are near the upper limits of the portions 24 of the rails. A` rearward pair of suspension arms; 52. is provided; The upper ends of these arms are secured to the extreme. rear., lower ends of the rails 22 by pivot. pins 53. The lower ends of these arms are joined to; the` lower ends of the rear portions 36 of the brackets 34 by means, of. pivot pins 54. lt will be understood that: the arms 48 and152 are of the same length and parallel, but that the forward arms have connection with the shelf 32 through pivots positioned considerably higher `than the connection of the rear arms with the rails and brackets. A channel 56 connects arms 52 approximately one-third of the distance` up from their pivotal connections 54. with brackets; 34. This channel, when the shelf approaches fully extended` position, contacts springs 31, slightly deflecting them and, in effect, cushions the final movement of the shelf into extended position.

The structure thus far described provides. a suspension for the shelf that enables movement through an arc from the position of use in Fig.. l to the position, of storage in Fig. 2. It will be noted, however, that when the arms 48 and 52 extend vertically downwardly with the shelf in its lowermost position, said shelf is not in fully retracted position. For the shelf to move into fully retracted position, the arms 48 and 52 must swing rearwardly, thus raising the shelf within the pedestal to the position shown in Fig. 2. Attention is nowdirected to the structure having to do withthe control and manipulation of the counterbalance springs 31. This structure includes a member 57 that consists of a cross bar 58 with integral` end legs `59.. Thev bar portion. of this member secures` theV other ends of counterbalance springs 31. The ends of the legs` 591 are joined` by means of pivots 61 to the rear arms 52 a short distance from the pivots 53 of said. arms with rails 22. Control links 62 are provided. The lower end of each. of these links is pivotally connected, as at 63, to. the legs 59 approximately onethird of the length of said leg from` the cross bar 58. Centrally, each link is laterally otset for clearance purposes in its manipulation. The .other end of each link is secured to the rail 22 by pivots 64 which, it will be noted, are located above and forwardly of pivots 53.

The shelf, in fully retracted positionis shownin Figs. 2, and 8. Referring more particularlyto Fig. 2, itwill be noted. that the blisters 39 of brackets 34 abut the forward edges of arms 52 and, thus,.relatively movable parts of the suspension serve` as a stop to prevent undesired further rearward movement of the shelf to an, extent where it might contact the rear wall ofthe pedestal. Two small brackets 66 are secured to the rear channels 21.and extend horizontally therefrom toward opposite sides of the shelf at a position `slightly below the position of rest of said shelf. The ends. of the latching rod` 42Y are in the plane of anges 67 of the brackets 66 when the shelf is in its lowermost position. Rearward movement of the shelf moves the rod against tension of the Ispring 44 the length of the slots 41 in the brackets 34. During this movement of the rod, the shelf has swung sufficiently upwardly to bring the rod ends above the flange 67 and permit the spring 44 to snap the` rod to the other ends of the slots and into a position of rest on tlanges 67. By this means it is possible to secure the shelf in the position yabove described wherein blisters 39 and arms 52 abut.

As the shelf nears fully extended position, the ends of the latching rod 42 ride upwardly along the inclined foward edges 25 of the side rails 22 until they reach notches Z6. ln the courseof the rods movement up the incline of the rails, spring 44 has been extended, and, consequently, the ends of the rod snap into these notches and hold the shelf in raised, extended position. It is f lcsirablc that the ends of the rod 42, at least initially, do not move into contact with the closed ends of notches in order that a continued wedging action, as between the inclined surfacesV 27 and the rod ends, may occur as a result of tension of spring 44. However, it is most important that thc llanges 46 of the brackets 34 contact fixed portions of the pedestal. The screws 47, carried by llanges 46, are for this purpose. When the shelf has been brought into fully extended position with the rod ends partially up the inclined surfaces 27, screws '7 may be adjusted into contact with the lower flanges ot" side rails 22. Thus, a more or less squeezing action is created as between the screws 47 and the ends of the rod 42 engaged with the surfaces 27. This structure serves to prevent vibration of the shelf during manipulation of a typewriter mounted thereon and at the same timeenables an operator to simply and easily increase the latching tension should any slight wear occur in the rod ends or the flanges 67 of brackets 66.

It will be apparent that to return the shelf to secured position within the pedestal it is merely necessary to operate the latch release handle 43, thus withdrawing the ends of the rod 42 from the notches 26. Slight pressure on the part of the operator swings the shelf down wardly through the path of travel dened by the sets of arms 48 and 52. At the lowermost point of travel of the shelf, the rod ends contact bracket ilanges 67, thus mov ing the rod ends forwardly in the slots 41. During this movement, the shelf is moving slightly upwardly, the extent of which is suicient to now allow the rod ends to move on to the flanges 67, and at this point the forward edges of arms 52 contact blisters 39 and prevent further inward and upward movement of the shelf. With the rod ends resting on the bracket flanges 67, it is impossiblel to swing the shelf downwardly and outwardly toward extended position. However, the length of slots 41 is sufficient to enable movement of the rod ends from off the bracket flanges byy forward movement of the handle 43.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of the invention, it will be understood that variations of the structure thereof may be made in accommodating it to various swing mechanisms for a pedestal mounted typewriter shelf, and that these variations are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as they .are set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. In a structure embodying an open end enclosure having a shelf mounted on a swingable suspension carried by said enclosure, said shelf being movable to an extended raised position of use, a latching mechanism for securing said shelf in extended position comprising a latching rod' carried by and extending transversely of and beyond the sides of said shelf and being capable of limited movement in the direction of the length of said shelf, the side walls of said enclosure, adjacent the open end thereof, being notched to provide rearwardly upwardly inclined surfaces for receiving the ends of said rod, a spring normally urging said rod to ride upwardly along the inclined surfaces of the notches to raise said shelf and cause portions thereof to abut said enclosure, and a handle joined to said rod and operable to withdraw said rod from engagement with said surfaces and enable movement of said shelf into retracted position within said enclosure.

2. ln a structure embodying a swingable suspension and a pedestal contained typewriter shelf, front and rear pivotally mounted parallel arms connecting said shelf with said pedestal, said shelf being swingable into an extended raised position of use, a latching mechanism for securing said shelf in position of use comprising a rod extending transversely of and beyond the sides of said shelf and capable of limited movement in the direction of the length of said shelf, the side walls of said pedestal including notches having rearwardly upwardly inclined under surfaces for receiving the ends of said rod, a spring normally urging said rod upwardly along said surfaces, means carried by said shelf engageable with said pedestal and cooperating with said rod to prevent inadvertent displacement of said shelf, and a handle l shelf in raised position comprising a movable latch bar mounted transversely of and extending beyond the sides of said shelf, the forward ends of said pedestal supports being notched to provide inclined surfaces for receiving the ends of said bar when said shelf is fully raised, means yieldingly urging said bar into a position to engage said typewriter shelf wherein pairs of pivotal arms, carried` by supports in said pedestal, suspend said shelf for movement into an extended raised position, means for securing said shelf in raised position comprising a movable latch bar mounted transversely of and extending beyond the sides of said shelf, the forward ends of said pedestal supports being notched to provide inclined surfaces for receiving the ends of said bar when said shelf is fully raised, means yieldingly urging said bar into a position to engage said surfaces, adjustable stops carried by said shelf engageable with portions of said pedestal when said bar engagesy said surfaces whereby to create a clamping force for securing said shelf against vibration and displacement, and a handle operable to withdraw said bar from said surfaces to enable movement of said shelf into retracted position within said pedestal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,121 Hunter Sept. 2, 1913 1,491,781 AXen Apr. 29, 1924 2,243,087 Burdick May 27, 1941 2,322,648 Lundstrom June 22, 1943 2,656,234 Koch Oct. 20, 1953 

